X-ray compass for determining device orientation
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining the orientation of a device with respect to an x-ray source. In one embodiment, the present invention is coupled to a medical device in order to determine the rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. In such an embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a scintillator portion which is adapted to emit photons upon the absorption of x-rays emitted from the x-ray source. An x-ray blocking portion is coupled to the scintillator portion. The x-ray blocking portion is disposed so as to vary the quantity of x-rays which penetrate the scintillator portion based upon the particular rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. A photon transport mechanism is also coupled to the scintillator portion. The photon transport mechanism is adapted to pass the photons emitted from the scintillator portion to an electronics portion. By analyzing the quantity of the photons, the electronics portion determines the rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source.
- Inventors:
-
- Danville, CA
- Moss Beach, CA
- Livermore, CA
- Pleasanton, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872337
- Patent Number(s):
- 5912945
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- x-ray; compass; determining; device; orientation; apparatus; method; respect; source; embodiment; coupled; medical; determine; rotational; comprised; scintillator; portion; adapted; emit; photons; absorption; x-rays; emitted; blocking; disposed; vary; quantity; penetrate; based; particular; photon; transport; mechanism; pass; electronics; analyzing; determines; transport mechanism; x-ray source; medical device; photons emitted; rays emitted; determining device; /378/
Citation Formats
Da Silva, Luiz B, Matthews, Dennis L, Fitch, Joseph P, Everett, Matthew J, Colston, Billy W, and Stone, Gary F. X-ray compass for determining device orientation. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Da Silva, Luiz B, Matthews, Dennis L, Fitch, Joseph P, Everett, Matthew J, Colston, Billy W, & Stone, Gary F. X-ray compass for determining device orientation. United States.
Da Silva, Luiz B, Matthews, Dennis L, Fitch, Joseph P, Everett, Matthew J, Colston, Billy W, and Stone, Gary F. Fri .
"X-ray compass for determining device orientation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872337.
@article{osti_872337,
title = {X-ray compass for determining device orientation},
author = {Da Silva, Luiz B and Matthews, Dennis L and Fitch, Joseph P and Everett, Matthew J and Colston, Billy W and Stone, Gary F},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method for determining the orientation of a device with respect to an x-ray source. In one embodiment, the present invention is coupled to a medical device in order to determine the rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. In such an embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a scintillator portion which is adapted to emit photons upon the absorption of x-rays emitted from the x-ray source. An x-ray blocking portion is coupled to the scintillator portion. The x-ray blocking portion is disposed so as to vary the quantity of x-rays which penetrate the scintillator portion based upon the particular rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source. A photon transport mechanism is also coupled to the scintillator portion. The photon transport mechanism is adapted to pass the photons emitted from the scintillator portion to an electronics portion. By analyzing the quantity of the photons, the electronics portion determines the rotational orientation of the medical device with respect to the x-ray source.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999}
}